Presentation document used for the update to the Town Council on Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017.

1. Independence, Engagement & Connection
FRANKLIN SENIOR CENTER

2. MISSION STATEMENT
To enhance the quality of life for Franklin’s older
adults by:
• Identifying their needs and creating programs that
meet those needs.
• Offering the knowledge, tools and opportunities
to promote mental, social and physical well-being.
• Advocating for relevant programs and services in
our community.
• Serving as a community focal point for aging
issues and as liaison to local, state and federal
resources for older adults and their families.

3. DEMOGRAPHICS
• There are 6,452 residents 60 years of age &
over in Franklin per the 2017 census. (19%)
• The average number of visitors to the Senior
Center is 167 per day.
• There are approximately 1,400 active
participants at the Center.
• The UMass Gerontology Institute projects an
increase to 9,281 residents 60 years & over in
Franklin by 2025. (27%)

4. PARTICIPANTS
50’s 3%
60’s 9%
70’s 44%
80’s 42%
90+ 2%
AGE DISTRIBUTION

5. FY’17 FUNDING

6. WE OFFER…
• Nutrition Program
• Health & Wellness
• Caregiver Support
• Social Service Coordination
• Socialization & Recreation
• Education & Instruction
• Volunteer & Intergenerational opportunities
• Tax Work Off Program
• Amenities

7. NUTRITION
• Affordable, healthy breakfast & lunch served
daily
• Enhanced social interaction
• Monthly social events
• Volunteer Opportunities

8. NUTRITION

9. HEALTH & WELLNESS
• Health Clinics: Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, Podiatry, Flu
Vaccinations, and Vision & Hearing screenings.
• Fitness: Cardio, Zumba, Yoga, Tai Chi, Chair Exercise,
Walking Club, Bocce, Line Dancing, Chair Volleyball, Reiki
& Meditation.
• Educational: Advanced Directives, Balance Classes, &
other assorted health topics.
• Fall Prevention: Gait Assessments, Fall Risk
Assessments, Medication Management, Home Safety
Evaluations & Installation of Grab Bars.
• Support: Low Vision, Weight Loss, Caregivers Support
Groups, Individual Consultations & Senior Expo.

10. HEALTH & WELLNESS STATS

11. CAREGIVER SUPPORT
• Supportive Day Program, “The Sunshine Club”
offers a structured, stimulating environment
for frail elders and respite for their caregiver.
• Companion Caregivers, in-home respite care
provides a trained, screened companion at a
subsidized rate.
• Caregivers Support Group meets biweekly to
offer support and education for stressed
caregivers.

12. SUPPORTIVE DAY STATS

13. SOCIAL SERVICES
• Social Service Coordinator – Assistance with
housing, employment, home care services, tax
abatements, transportation, food insecurity, Fuel
Assistance, Mass Health, SSI, MA RMV, Senior
Scams, Adaptive Assistance, Elder Abuse, etc.
• Legal Clinic with Elder Law Attorney (62 clients)
• Tax assistance – AARP & Circuit Breaker (315
clients served)
• SHINE – Serving the Health Information Needs of
the Elderly (153 clients)

14. SOCIAL SERVICES:
FY16/17
FY16
Duplicated Unduplicated
FY17
Duplicated Unduplicated
>60 519 143 658 158
<60 430 74 354 65
TOTALS 658 217 1,012 223
% Change:
Dup’d
Undup’d
+35%
+3%

15. MENTAL HEALTH
CLINICIAN
• Three year grant with 5 towns for a Licensed
Clinical Social Worker to provide Mental
Health services to older adults.
• Short-term interventions, assessments, crisis
interventions and referrals for older adults
facing mental health challenges.
• In FY17, served 22 Franklin residents providing
1,231 units of service (15 minutes).

16. LOW VISION
TRAINING
• Grant from the MA Association of Councils on
Aging to offer training; $10K for 2 years along
with state-of-the-art equipment.
• Working with Operation Able to fund
volunteers who provide training on
equipment.

17. SOCIALIZATION
• Opportunities for socialization including our
Café, social events, recreation, fitness, and
educational offerings.
• Research has shown a correlation between
socialization and living longer, better physical
health, a stronger immune system and
boosting brain health to lower the risk of
dementia.

18. RECREATION
• Day Trips
• Cards & board games
• Arts & Crafts
• Social Events
• Movies
• Chorale Group, The Silvertones

19. EDUCATION
• Computer, Tablet & Phone Instruction
• Italian/Spanish Conversation Group
• Current Events Discussion Group
• Lecture Series with Dean College & others
• Arts & Crafts Instruction
• Writers Group – Senior Scribblers
• Book Discussion Group
• Ted Talks & Genealogy

20. VOLUNTEERS
• Volunteers are a critical component of
running our Café, Gift Shop & much of our
social and recreational programming.
• Last year, 127 dedicated volunteers
contributed 6,748 hours of service to the
Senior Center.
• Volunteering reduces social isolation.

21. INTERGENERATIONAL
• Charter School helps our Friends group send gift cards
to homebound elders.
• Vocational School’s Health Services freshmen come to
the Center for 2 months training.
• Horace Mann students offer technology help to elders
• Poetry Day with Horace Mann 6th
graders.
• FHS National Honor Society Spring Fling.
• Xavarian students intern each year.
• ECDC students visit the Sunshine Club biweekly.
• Last year, 64 students volunteered 1,216 hours at the
Senior Center.

22. TAX WORK OFF PROGRAM
2015 2016 2017
Workers 91 90 89
Hours
completed
8,025 8,188 7,699
Total Credit $72,225 $79,978 $76,900
• Homeowners 60 and older receive a credit up to $1,000
off their annual real estate taxes by working 100 hours
in various town departments.
• Participants are selected on a first-come, first-served
basis as there are a limited number of slots for the
program (95).

23. AMENITIES
• Hairdresser/Barber/Manicurist
• Ben’s Bounty Gift Shop
• Computer Lab
• Free Medical Equipment Loans
• Franklin Connection Newsletter
• Free Use of Fitness Equipment
• Low Vision Video Magnifiers/Adaptive Assistance
• Free Movies & Popcorn
• Pool Table
• Library

24. ADVOCACY
The Council on Aging notes the following
significant unmet needs:
• Affordable, Accessible Housing
• Transportation (evenings & weekends)
• Tax Relief

25. OUTCOMES
Research by the National Council
on Aging found that, “Older adults who
participate in senior center programs can learn
to manage and delay the onset of chronic
disease and experience measurable
improvements in their physical, social, spiritual,
emotional, mental, and economic well-being.”

27. Sources
Slide # 7:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090505124850.htm
Slide # 17:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/living-mild-cognitive-
impairment/201606/the-health-benefits-socializing
Slide # 20:
http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=29244
Slide #25:
https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-
facts/senior-center-facts/